The 12-year career of West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who made 86 appearances for his nation, has come to an end with his announcement of retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old, who was grateful for his experiences and taking time to reflect on his voyage, posted the news on his Instagram page.
“During the past 12 years, I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies,” Gabriel wrote. “Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.”
Gabriel played 59 of his 86 matches in the Test format, where he made his biggest contributions. Gabriel made his debut in 2012 at Lord’s and became an integral part of the West Indies speed attack very fast. He claimed 166 wickets at an average of 32.21 during his Test career, including six five-wicket hauls. In a memorable effort, he recorded match stats of 13 for 121 against Sri Lanka in June 2018, which was the fourth-best for a West Indian bowler. Gabriel played his final Test match in Port of Spain in 2023, against India.
In his retirement message, Gabriel expressed his deep appreciation for those who supported him throughout his career. “I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies,” he said. “Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special.”
Gabriel also shared his future goals, saying he wants to keep playing cricket for clubs and franchise teams throughout the world in addition to Trinidad and Tobago at the national level.
As a traditional West Indian fast bowler, Gabriel made contributions to the game that will live on in his career. One significant setback, meanwhile, came in 2017 when Yasir Shah dismissed him in a Dominica Test match against Pakistan while he was trying a slog sweep with seven balls left to win a draw. Gabriel saw additional controversy in 2019 after being handed a four-match ODI ban for using a derogatory term in a St. Lucian conversation with England captain Joe Root.
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